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[Shackeng]

As title, the surface of the centre panel buttons are sticky, I don’t recall cleaning them with anything strong. Any suggestions as to cause, and cure?

[Doctor Gollum]

Rubberised surface reacting with human secretion, dust and UV.

Careful use of Carplan Tar Spot remover or hot water with washing up liquid... All the buttons are removeable (some minor dismantling to get the covers off once removed) 

Scrub gently though...

[TheBoy]

Rubberised surface reacting with human secretion, dust and UV.

Careful use of Carplan Tar Spot remover or hot water with washing up liquid... All the buttons are removeable (some minor dismantling to get the covers off once removed) 

Scrub gently though...

Might try the fairy - her blind switch has gone sticky.

Presumably it doesn't peel the coatings off?

[Doctor Gollum]

Not if you take it out and are gentle.

Tar spot remover is effective on stubborn residue.

Ambersil takes a few goes, but again is effective.

Whichever, use only soft, fluffy cloths and go easy. Time and patience is better than force and speed 

[Shackeng]

 

[biggriffin]

Baby wipes

[Nick W]

Baby wipes

As the cause, or the solution?


Using the wrong, or too strong a solution, chemical will quickly soften the coating. I wonder if the current extra use of hand sanitiser(the alcohol is a pretty good solvent) is going to affect this sort of thing.

[Doctor Gollum]

Before it became more expensive than saffron, we used to use hand sanitizer at work as a fast and dirty residue remover...

That said, it was on tedlar coated bulkheads etc rather than soft touch automotive switches 

[biggriffin]

Baby wipes

As the cause, or the solution?

 To clean the switches,,    they clean anything, and are very neutral.

[dave the builder]

I use babywipes on all the switches ,trim etc 
I keep a pack on the passenger seat, wipe my face when i take my mask off
I add a very diluted BAC50 (Benzalkonium Chloride) solution to the packs of baby wipes
this is the active ingredient in disinfectant 
it's a germicide Algaecide Bactericide Fungicide
Benzalkonium Chloride is also the active ingredient in NHS NON alcohol foaming hand sanitizer
a useful chemical in these current times with Chinese Virus 

http://www.kutol.com/wp-content/uploads/wpsc/category_images/formula%20682%20FmHandSanNOAlc_BZK.pdf 
https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(19)30811-9/pdf

[Enceladus]

How about using Ambersil Amberclens and similar products? That has alcohol in, I believe. Will it make the plastic worse?

[Doctor Gollum]

Their foaming upholstery cleaner is my go to universal cleaner, as per my first second post

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/interior-cleaning/ambersil-groom-upholstery-cleaner-500ml-705152.html

Readily available too...

[Shackeng]

I’m still puzzled that they got so sticky. 

[Doctor Gollum]

I’m still puzzled that they got so sticky. 

It's just something that happens to the soft touch coating that they use on them. Mercedes used a similar substance to coat the light switch bezel on the Barge... not so noticeable on charcoal, but makes beige or grey look positively rank.

If you keep on top of cleaning, once a week in my taxi used to keep them nice, then they stay clean

[biggriffin]

I’m still puzzled that they got so sticky. 

  Have you been entertaining ladies from our lords club in your motor sir.